Typographical machine



Mhy 3,1927.

7 Y 1,626,773 w. ACKERMAN TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINE Filed Sept. 5, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INl/ENTOR.

ATTORNEY! 7 ,w ACKERMAN TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINE Filed Sept. 5. 1925 e Sheets-Sheet 2 ay w. ACKERMAN TYPOGRAPHICAL mcnmn Filed Sept. 5, 1925 s Sheets-Sheet 4 Ma 3 1927. 1626773 y w. ACKERMAN.

-TYPGGRAPHICAL MACHINE Filed Sept. s; 1925 s Sheets-Sheet 5 5 =22 460.0"TONYHDUMWPBKJZIbeais'r C INVENTOR May 3, 1927.,

- I w. ACKERMAN TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHiNE H v.UUU DUU DUDE mm W .UUUUUDUUUUUBUUU W M UWmm ma| w=muH Q INVENTOR BY,. AORNS" ters thereon, and, the matrices thereafter re- Patented 1 May 3, 1927.

unite WILLIAM sonnet/IAN, or TOWNERS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR '10 MEnenNrnALEn LIiiTQ- TYPE COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF NEW-YORK.

TYPOGRAIHICAL MACHINE.

Application filed September 5, 1925; serial Nb. 54,670. i

pear in print and then assembled in line, thef composed line transferred to the face of a slotted mold, the mold filled with molten metal to form a slug or linotype against the matrices which produce the type characturned through distributing mechanism to the magazine from which they started.

More particularly, it relates to that class of machines capable of handling matrix fonts differing as to the size and number of characters, such for instance as the seventytwo or fifty-five character display fonts and the ordinary ninety character text fonts now in use; Inmachines of this class, the key-- board mechanism includes means whereby the finger keys may be operatively connected to the magazine in use to effect the release of corresponding matrices oftho contained font, whether the latter be a text fontor a display font.- This feature is important, since the matrices of the display font-s (being much thicker than those of the text fonts) are differently spaced in the magazine channels and are usually arranged in a different order as to character. A keyboard mechanism of the kind mentioned is fully set forth in the Kennedy Patents Nos. 1,397,967.and.1,397,97 t, to which reference may be had ifdesired.

The {present invention contemplates an improved form of keyboard mechanism for accomplishing somewhat the same results.

In the embodiment illustrated, the keyboard is provided with a. single series of slides for the cam yokes, as usual, and these slides are operated from the finger keys through an intermediate series of connecting bails or levers, which may be adjusted at will to establish a set of direct connectionsbetween the various keys and the respective slides when an ordinary textfont is in use, or a set of more or less indirect connections between certainselected keys anddifierently located slides of the series when a display font is in use. T e partic lar form, and

arrangement of the parts, aswell as their mode of operation, will be best understood from the detailed description to follow. "In the accompanying drawings, the invention has been shown inerelyin preferred form and by way. oat-example and obviously many changes and variations may be made therein} without departing from its spirit, It is therefore to be understood that the invention 1S not limited to any specific-form. or embodiment, except in so far as suchlnnitations are specified in the claims.

In the drawings: 7 I I Fig. '1 is a skeleton view of alinotype ma chine, equ pped with the invention; F 1g 2 1s a side elevation, partly insection, of the improved keyboard and showing the ball box inits rearward position;

Fig. 3 1s a side elevation of'tlie rear part of the keyboard and showing the bail boX in lts forward position; i i Figs 4 and 5 are detailed; perspective views illustrating one form of connecting bail emplo ed and showing the bail in different operative positions; 1

Fig. 6' is a perspective V18W- of another;

out of action;

, Figs. 10 and '11 are perspective views :of the form of connecting bail shown in Fig, 6 and showing it in different. operative positions;"

Figs. 12and 13 are'perspe'ctive views of another form of connecting -bail,.-the form used in operating adjacent actuating slid'esand showing it in different operative positions; v

Fig. 14 is a diagrammaticl view," showing the relation between the ke'yboard devices and the respective magazines; and

Fig. 15 a plan view,lpal tly diagr'ain matic, of the keyboard mechanism, showing the connections between the first tier of finger keysanditlie corresponding group of connecting devices.

As shown insFig. 1, the machine herein illustrated is. equipped with-1 two. regular magazines A and special. magazine. A which are arranged to; be raised and lowered in the well-known manner by theo'pe'ration of the hand crankS, so as to bring. any

selected magazine in operative relation to the assembling anddistributing mechanisms.

. text; font,. whereas.the.. magazine. A? ispro As. these mechanismsfform no part ofthe present invention,. they need not be dealt. with further, althoughit will beunderstood thatv they shfouldbe capable of handling the diflerent: fonts employed. v

The magazines A are each provided with ninety one grooved channels spaced'apart in, the usual .way to: adapt them. to contain the. matriceszof. an ordinary nln'ety character or vided withonly -se.Venty'-three grooved 'chan-. nels spaced apart in a different manner'to adapt itto contain the matrices ofa seventytwo character. or display font,.th ese two standard lfonts beingmerely selected 'for purposes of illustration. Eachmagazine is provided with aseries of matrix releasing, escapements a which, when the magazine is brought into. operativ-erposition, are actuated through the medium of the pivotedxlevers E by thereeds: E the latter in. turn being operated (Fig. 2). by .the yoke, E arranged in banks; and 'providedwith the cams oreccentrics E adapted under the influence of trip=d0gs Ef to cooperate. with the under- I lyingpoWer-driven.rolls.Eil. The trip dogs.

E", as usual, are actuated by a series, of vertical slidesH, guided in: the fixed part'of the keyboard :trame,1:and ope-rated inxgthe manner! aboutlto:be-described fromIthe key.-

board'F. y

Asbefore stated, the present invention contemplates certain improvements whereby the keyboard F may be operatively, connect-f ed to-either the displaymagazine. A orthie,

" text magazine A so. that like matrices of'tlie location.- inthe vmagazine, channels.

two fonts, e. ,Inatricesbearing like characters); may bereleased from their respective magazines by the operationoffthe. same finger keys, notwithstanding their different This. is accomplished by the employment. of. a series of rocking levers or bails, designated M, N,

O, P and Q, located attherear. o-fthev k-ey board and. disposed". in. superposed groups,

one for. each tierof finger keys, the bails, of

the respective groups being pivotally mount.- ed upon transverse rods J fittedlinto the endqvallsof a boxer. frame. J: The box J is adjustable forwardly and, rearwardly in order to set. the .various .bailsas aunit in one or; :theotlie'reof two d'ifierentpositions: In their rearward position the bails serve to connect all of the finger keys of the keyboard to the respective actuating slides 11' above referred to, .so as. to effect the release of the text matrices from a magazine A; whereas, in their forward position, the bails serve. to connect certainselected keys to ferently located ,slidesofthe series, so as to eiiect the release of the display matrices fl'OllT-tlifl magazine A The bailsM, best shown in Figs. 6, 10 and 11, are employed 'for the most part in makingnp the connections and are of the twoarm variety, the arms'M at one endbeing longer than the arms M at the opposite endi The. longer bail arms, M extend'forw'ardly between adjacent slides Hiso asto engage from below studs H projectingflaterally therefrom and 'to engage from above reducedcnd portions F of the finger keysF f. It is in this way that the actuating. slides are. connected to and'operated'byfthe finger keys,

it being noted at. this point-that-tlre reduced endportionsF are sufficiently long to maintain their engagement with the forward ends of the bailjarm's M? in either adjusted position of the bails M, The shorter-arms M of the bails M are arranged to engage in notches I-I formed'in the. rear edges, ofcertain selected ones of the slides H when the bails occupy their forward position (see Fig; 11) but are adapted to become/disengfagedfrom said notches so as'to stand'yclear of the slides, whenthe bails occupy their rearward position ee Fig. 10). It will be observedthat the longer bail armsM' are provided with recesses G spaced 'rearwardly keys will be impartedthroughqthe longer bail arms M}, which move idly' at'such times, to the shorter bailarmsh/I and=thence to the selected-slides H withgwhich the latter arms are engagedi. It will be understood that the bail arms M} andM are difierentlyspaced, apart on thedifl'erent bails, depending-upon the relative location of the two "actuating slides with which each bail, is associated This is clearly depicted in the diagrams of Figs. 14 and 15. 1

The bails N are of the single' arm variety and are used" in cases where two adjacent slides,H arecontrolled. from the same fingel key. Such cases. are indicated in the diagran ofFig; 14 for t-he characters t, a,

R, F, Y, andlth'e formand relation of the partsare shown in detail in Figs. 12 and 13. It will be noted that these particular bails are provided with studs N arranged to engage in the notches H of the appropriate slides H and, like the longer arms M of the bails M, are recessed at Gfor the same reason. Accordingly, when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 12, the finger key F is operatively connected to one of the slides'H through the engagement of the bail arm with the stud H- ,'-whereas, when the parts are in the position'shown in Fig. 13, the key isoperatively connected to the other slide H throughthe engagement of the stud N in the notch H 'of said slide. As a mat ter of fact, the action of the bails N is identical with that of the bails M, the only difference being that the stud N has been substituted for the short bail arm M The bails 0 (shown inFigs. 4 and 5) are used in the rare cases where the longer and shorter arms of different bails operate on adjacent slides. These bails O are substantial ly the same as the bails M, except that the shorter arms 0 engage studs H on the slides H, instead of engaging notches therein. The longer arms O are identical with the bail arms M and function in precisely the same way, being formed'with recesses G for the same reasons. i

It sohappens that, in thepresent ar-' utilized in effecting the release of matrices with like characters of the text and display fonts. These particular characters (e, D,

L, Z, etc.) are indicated by a marked circle at thebottom of the diagra-mshown in Fig. 14, and in such instances the single-armed bails or levers]? shown in detail in Fig. 8 are employed. I These bails arejformed at their forward endsso' as to maintain engagement with both the associated slides H and finger keys F ineither adjusted position of the bails. In other words, the bails P afford a permanent connection, between these particular finger keys and the, corresponding actuating slides, being ,useful primarily in permitting the adjustment of all the bails as a unit. Like connections, similarly indicated, are also employed forthe last five columns of matrices contained in the magazine A As shown, these matrices are di posed in vertical planes lying beyond the range of the escapement. actuating reeds at the extreme right, and are released when the corresponding keys are operated through the medium of "a series of bails E arranged above the keyboard F so as to be actuated b the appropriate reeds E These bails E although actuated when the ordinary magazines are in use,move idly at such times since the group of 'escapement actuating levers E controlled thereby are located to the right of. the escapements of that magazine; The arrangement in this respect is like that shown and described in the Ken.-

used keys are controlled through the single- I armedbails Q (Fig, 9) 'substantially'the same as the bails N without the studs N and adjustable so as to make and break connection between the finger keys and the as sociated slides. These bails Q might, how'- ever, be identical with the bails P, since locking means are provided to prevent their operation when in their forward position.

The said lockingmeans, in the present instance, (see Figs; 3 and 9) comprise stop fingers L secured to the rear face of the keyboard back plate F" and arran ed to en gage from above thefront ends of the bails (,2 when the latter'are shifted forwardly to their inactive position (see dotted lines Fig. 9). Owing to the fact that the'bails maintain a. constant engagement-with the reduced end portions F of the key levers, the latter will be'locked orfunlocked acco'rdingto the adjusted position of the bails.

The operation of the parts will now be clear: WVhen the box J is in its rearward position, the bails M, N, O, P, Q will connectall ninety finger keys F directly with the respective actuating slides H, all the bails being engaged with the laterally projecting pins H on the actuating slides. This is the condition of adjustment required for the release ofniatrices of a ninety character or text font'from the magazine A. The

other condition of adjustment is required,

for the release of matrices of a seventy-two character or display font from the magazine A Under this other condition of adjustment,the box J is in} its forward position and thebails serve to connect "the seventy-two activepfinger keys (those corresponding to the-matrices of the display font) to the appropriate actuating'slides H, the

'iosi shorter. arms M and O orthe studs N of the bails in this case being engaged with the actuating slides and the longer bail arms being disengaged therefrom although maintaining their engagement with the in the forward position of the bails, It has already been pointed out that the form of the bails and the spacing ofthe bail arms vary in aceordance' with the location of the ing locked against action by the fingers L display matrices in the magazine channels, it being evident that when like matrices of the text and display fonts occupy differently located magazine channels, the finger keys will be alternately connected to those actu ating slides which operate the escapements of such differently located channels. lVhen a textfont is in use, the connections between the finger keys and the magazine are the same as ordinarily, although, of course, made up in a different way. WVhen a display font is in use, the connections will be altogether different, and these connections are shown by the diagram of Fig. 14;. From this diagram, any one of the key connections may be easily traced. Take, for example, the letter v: The finger key F bearing this letter is engaged by the longer arm of the bail M (indicated by the bolder lines in every case), which is connected to the actuating slide H normally associated with the j finger key. Such slide, after having been disengaged from the j finger key by the forward adjustment of the bails, will respond to the operation of the v finger key and trip the overlying cam yoke E the latter operating the overlying reed E for the cscapement controlling the release of the display matrices bearing the character v in the magazine A The connections from the other keys may also be traced in like manner.

The manner of adjusting the connecting bails or levers will now be described, reference being directed to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 15. As shown best in Figs. 3 and 15, the box J is supported by two pairs of parallel links R, R pivoted at their lower ends tov a fixed bracket R on the keyboard frame and pivotally connected at their upper ends to a cross member J on each of the end walls of said box. The latter is thus rendered capable of being adjusted back and forth in a substantially horizontal path to establish the connections above described. In. order to limit such adjustment of the box in either direction so as to locate the bails in their proper adjusted positions, the end walls of the box J are provided with lugs J which engage the keyboard post F in the forward position of the box (Fig. 3) and which engage fingers F on theposts in the retracted position of the box. Since each adjustment is comparatively small. (about and to obviate danger of breakage of the parts during adjustment, the box J is preferably adjusted through the medium of a spring. Thus, a spring J (see Fig. 1)v is-arranged between the. short arms of a pair of cooperating cam faced levers J J having shoulders J and loosely-mounted on anexte lded fulcrum pin R of the link R. 'A hand lever K, pivoted at K is provided at its rear end with a roller K arranged to engagev the cam faced evers J J and rockthehl about t fulcrum pin R the hand lever is operated, such motion being imparted to the and thence to the parallel links R, B a short crank arm .1 which is alternately en gaged by the shoulders J of the cam faced levers J J". As a result of this arrange.- ment, when the hand; lever pushed ipwardly the roller K rides down over the cam face of the lever J and releases the power stored up in the spring J As the roller passes onto the longer arm of the lever J", the latter is depressed and the shoulder J of the lever J is pulled by the spring up against a stud J on the arm J so that further depression of the lever J stretches the spring until the latter gains sufl icient power to overcome the inertia of the box J, when it will be shifted forwardly against the keyboard post and held there under ten; sion in the operative position shown in Fig. 3. When the hand lever is pushed downwardly, a similar action takes place but in the opposite. direction.

The bails are guided in their rocking movements by separate elongated slots J formed in the front wall- J of the box and in some cases by similar slots formed in the rear box wall J4. When the arms, of two bails are so closely arranged as, to prevent the use of separate guiding slots, onef of the bails (as in Fig. 7 is provided with an auxiliary arm G which is arranged in a slot J formed at aconvenient place in the box wall.

Having thus described my-invention, what I claimand desire to. secure. Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. In a keyboard mechanism for typographical; machines, the combination of a fin.- ger key, an actuating member, and a device directly. enga 'ed with both the f nger key nd actuating member for operativel-y connecting said parts, said devicebeing adjustable to break such connection when required.

2, In a keyboard mechanism for typographical naehines, the. combination of a finger key, an actuating member, an adjustable connecting device, arranged between said parts and adapted to be directly engaged therewith, and means for adjusting saiddevice to make or break connection between the finger key the actuating member as required.

8. In a keyboard mechanism for type graphical machines, the combination of a finger key, an actuating member, a device operatively connecting. said parts and adjustable tobreak such connection when desired, and a locking element arranged to en e the connecting: device in its adj ustedposition, for locking l fikey out. of action whensaid connection isbroken,

4; In a ybeerd me h nism fo tynor graphical machines,v theficonibination of a finge key, e-aetuat eg; memb rs, and

adjustable intermediate device for operatively connecting the key to either of. said members to the exclusion of the other, said device being arranged in constant direct engagement with the finger key and adapted to be engaged directly with oneor the other of the actuating members in its different adjusted positions.

5. In a keyboard mechanism for typographical machines, the combination of afinger key, two actuating members, a device for operatively connecting the key to either of said membersto the exclusion of the other, an adjustable support wherein the connecting device is mounted, and means for adjusting the support to establish one or the other of said connections, as required. j I

6. In a keyboard mechanism for typographical machines, the combination of two actuatin members, a fixed frame wherein the members are mounted, a finger key, and an intermediate adjustable device for operatively connecting the key to one-or the other of the actuating members as required, said device being arranged in constant direct'engagement withthe finger key and adapted to be engaged directly'with one or the other of the actuating membersin its difierent adjusted positions. a

7. In a keyboard mechanism for typographical machines, the combination of two actuating members, a finger key, and an adjustable device serving in one position to connect the key to one of said members and in another position'to connect the key to the other of said members.

8. In a keyboard mechanism for typographical machines, the combination of a series of finger keys, a corresponding series of actuating'members, a fixed frame wherein the members are mounted, intermediate adjustable devices for establishing direct or indirect connections between the finger keys and the actuating members, and means for effecting the required adjustment of said devlces.

9. In a keyboard mechanism for typographical machines, the combination of a series of finger keys, a corresponding series of actuating members, adjustable devices serving in one position to connect the various finger keys to the respective members and in another position to connect certain selected keys to dilferently located members of the series, and means for adjusting said devices to either of said positions as required.

10. In a keyboard mechanism for typographical machines, the combination of a series of finger keys, a corresponding series of actuating members, devices normally connecting the various keys to the respective members and adjustable to connect a lesserv number of said keys to differently located members of the series, and means for locktime of such adjustment. a

ing the remaining keys out of'action at the 11. In. akeyboard mechanism for typographical machines, the combinationv of a series of finger keys, a corresponding series of actuating members, devices normally connecting the various keys to the respective members and adjustable to connecta lesser number of said keys to differently located members of the series, and means arranged when the connecting devices are thus adjusted to engage such of them as are associated with the remaining keys and lock the'latter out of action.

12. In a keyboard mechanism for typographical machines, the combination of a series of finger keys, a corresponding series of actuating slides,'a series of adjustable bails or levers serving in one position to connect the various keys to the respective slides and in another position to connect certain selected keys with difierently located slides of the series, and means for adjusting the bails or levers to either of said positions, as required. a

13. In a keyboard mechanism for typographical machines,'the combination of a series of finger keys, a corresponding series of actuating slides, a series of bails or levers having constant engagement with the respective keys, an adjustable frame wherein the bails or levers are pivotally mounted, and means for adjusting the frame to different operative positions, the said bails or levers serving to connect the various keys to. the respective slides when the frame is in one position and certain selected keys to differently located slides of the series when the frame is in another position.

let. In a keyboard mechanism for typographical machines, the combination of a series of actuating slides, a corresponding series of finger keys having their rear ends arranged adjacent the respective slides, and a series of bails or levers adjustable to es tablish direct conections between the various finger keys and the respective slides or indirect connections between certain selected keys and differently located slides. of the series.

15. In a keyboard mechanism for typographical machines, the combination of a llU finger key, an actuating slide, and an inter- 1 mediate connecting bail or lever adjustable to two different positions, the said bail or lever being arranged to maintain engagement with the finger key in both positions and to make and break connection with the actuating slide when adjusted toits different 1 new???) or lever being arrangedengiag'eactua'wti ngi sl i des-01: members therein. r'efem'ed m ment with the finger key in both positions to contl ol the operation o-f pewer+operated and t0 makeand break connection with the. cam yokes' 01. similar elements Whichmctuate two actuating slides alternately Whenad: thema crixreleasingeseapements. j'usted back ferth between itstwo' p0'si'- Intesti'mony whereof, I have affixed my ti0ns-.- signaturehereto.

17. A keyboardmechanismas set forth in WILLIAM ACKERl-YIAN- 

